Philosophical Principles Research Articles

Balancing realist review outputs with the needs of policymakers and practitioners.

A realist review is a theory-driven approach to synthesizing evidence based on the realist philosophy of science. Realist reviews are conducted to provide the policy and practice community with a rich, detailed, and practical understanding of complex social interventions that will likely be of much more use to them when planning and implementing programs. Robust realist reviews must balance philosophical engagement, methodological rigor, and relevance to practice. Nevertheless, they have been criticized for being more philosophically inclined and less methodologically robust, with findings that have little implication for practice. Using the philosophy/Epistemology→methodology→theory→practice concept flow, we report how we balanced philosophical principles and practical insights in a recently conducted realist review on participatory practices that impact the benefits of non-communicable disease research and interventions in low- and middle-income countries. If realist review reviews are not comprehensible enough for these practitioners, their utility and relevance may suffer from being limited to a specialist cohort of academics. We propose that realist review findings and outputs must be framed and communicated to meaningfully engage practitioners without undertaking translational efforts.

Erasmus and the Need for Shared Values

Abstract Many people in the Netherlands are familiar with the image of Erasmus, who has become a symbol of wisdom and independence of spirit in this country. Yet it is difficult to truly understand this thinker, in part because he constantly played with language and perspectives and enjoyed wrong-footing readers. At the same time, this playfulness in Erasmus is exactly what makes him so interesting, especially to today’s readers. The philosopher developed a way of thinking that appeals to modern-day people, who value their own individuality but also need shared values: the question of what binds us. This essay is an attempt to unravel Erasmus’ challenging thinking and his philosophical principles, in the expectation that his method of thinking could be helpful in the current discussion about the need for shared values.

Transformative education applied to the philosophical principles of undergraduate education in psychology.

Transformative education applied to the philosophical principles of undergraduate education in psychology.

The Differences between Chinese and Western Names and Their Cultural Implications

Names serve as more than mere identifiers; they embody cultural values, identity formation, and societal norms. This study examines the similarities and differences between Chinese and Western naming conventions, exploring how these practices reflect broader cultural, historical, and religious influences. Drawing on the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, the research investigates how language—and consequently names—shapes worldviews and social structures. In China, naming conventions often emphasize familial ties, cultural heritage, and philosophical principles rooted in Confucian values and ancient traditions. In contrast, Western naming practices tend to prioritize individualism and personal expression, reflecting values of freedom and equality. The study highlights the importance of names in shaping identities and social interactions, particularly in a globalized context. Understanding these distinctions promotes intercultural dialogue and enhances mutual respect between Chinese and Western cultures. The findings suggest that names function as cultural markers, bridging personal identity with collective heritage, and tradition with modernity.

The interconnectedness between Ubuntu principles and generative artificial intelligence in distance higher education institutions

The interconnectedness of African philosophical principles of Ubuntu with generative artificial intelligence may provide an inclusive approach to distance higher education. This fusion may improve and provide customised learning, access quality education, collaboration, inclusivity, strengthens lecturer support and development, and a culturally relevant experience that acknowledges the communal interests of all stakeholders. Generative artificial intelligence promotes epistemological access for all students irrespective of their diverse social, financial, and linguistic backgrounds and redefines higher education experiences and practices while the principles of Ubuntu prioritise the well-being of stakeholders. The objective of this conceptual article was to explore the interconnectedness between Ubuntu principles and generative artificial intelligence perspectives in distance higher education institutions to reimagine methods of teaching and learning. This article is grounded in the theory of the Ubuntu principles and advocates for a paradigm shift in higher education practices. It contends that integrating African philosophical principles into the implementation of generative artificial intelligence’s learning provides a more inclusive and culturally relevant approach to education. The notable highlights confirm that Ubuntu principles dismantle oppressive systems, restore self-determination for all students and promote change and reconciliation through the use of generative artificial intelligence. This approach can be applied to distance higher education institutions to create inclusive learning experiences that gives precedence to a sense of belonging, mutual support, and ethical considerations.

The Ancient Tantric in Balinese Contemporary Art

In recent years, artists from various cultures have increasingly drawn on the spiritual and philosophical principles of ancient tantra. This article explores the influence of ancient tantric traditions on contemporary Balinese arts. It employed an innovative art-based research methodology utilizing qualitative, interpretive, and practice-based research methods. These included observation, interviews, and document analysis while integrating theoretical frameworks, symbolic perspectives, and theo-aesthetic considerations. The research reveals how artists transform and reinterpret tantric themes in their work, highlighting the complex relationship between modern expressions and ancient inspirations. Balinese art, as the study shows, achieves beauty by blending opposites, such as masculine and feminine qualities, through the concept of lanang-wadon. By examining this topic, the research provides valuable insights into the evolving relationship between spirituality, creativity, and cultural exchange in Bali and the interconnected world. This study underscores the dynamic interplay between ancient traditions and contemporary artistic practices, showcasing a unique fusion that enriches both the art and its cultural context.

Nettles, snickers and the egg shield: allegory in the teaching of rights

ABSTRACT This article describes a teaching session focused on the gap between rights-as-law and rights-as-mentality in social work. The session has run in various forms with BSc, MA and PQ social work students, and is based on three allegorical vignettes, each of which illustrates a problem with a legalistic concept of rights. These are named ‘The Path of Nettles’, ‘The Snickers Problem’ and ‘The Post Hoc Egg Shield’. The paper has four sections—an explanation of the philosophical rationale for, and pedagogical approach of, the session; a description of the session’s components, including the three allegorical vignettes; a setting out of the session itself; and an evaluation of the session. One of the authors has designed and run several versions of this session; the other is a social work manager seconded to Northumbria University and responsible for the university’s ASYE teaching (initial year in practice for newly-qualified workers). The teaching is particularly relevant to Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) Domains 4 and 9, and its equivalents in other professional capabilities descriptors.

Exploring Existentialist Design in Digital Humanities

This paper examines the application of existentialist philosophical and hermeneutic principles to user experience design within the Digital Humanities Laboratory at the National Library of Norway (NLN). Over the past decade, the NLN DH Lab has evolved from organizing workshops on Jupyter Notebook tools to developing user-friendly applications tailored to streamline computer-mediated research on cultural heritage materials. Drawing from existentialist and hermeneutic philosophy, the paper explores how one these applications. “Kollokasjoner” (“Collocations”) 1) accommodates subjectivity, 2) embraces fluidity and multiplicity of meanings, and 3) facilitates independent interpretation and engagement with cultural heritage artifacts, or epistemic objects, visualizing layers of meaning in a simple and easy-to-understand way.

Exploring the philosophical perspectives of future robots

If computers or robots were to replace human scientists, should they adhere to our established principles of the Philosophy of Science? We have been taught to value consistency, Popperian falsifiability, and Occam’s razor (also known as the principle of parsimony). While these traditional philosophical principles are valuable, they might limit the exploration of complex phenomena that require more nuanced or multifaceted approaches. Specific formal contexts exist where these principles falter when confronted with reality, as traditional scientific methods may reduce cognitive power. This paper formally highlights the limitations of traditional scientific and philosophical principles through the mathematics of computability (which will be considered softly).

Utilizing Ethnographical Approaches to Study the Abstract, Intimate, and Dynamic Topic of Trust

There is an increased need to acquire a more holistic and situated understanding of how and why experiences unfold during real-life situations, especially during research focused on identifying nuanced and dynamic phenomena such as trust. Trust researchers need to revisit and expand their methodological toolkit with immersive qualitative methods for the researching of lived experiences of abstract, intimate, and dynamic experiences. In this article, we discuss two ethnographical approaches to qualitative trust research—autoethnography and at-home ethnography. We illustrate this discussion through two case vignettes from our studies of nuanced and dynamic organizational relationships in which we as researchers were also positioned as a part of the data. We apply philosophical principles connected to reflexivity and provide examples of the researcher as a subject during the study of unfolding vulnerabilities of the field and the researcher.

Knowledge transfer, not just true beliefs: virtue epistemology as a philosophical basis for education

Introduction. Modern pedagogical practice is being reformed due to systemic changes in the ways of social interaction. Knowledge transfer is being significantly modified under the influence of technical innovations, although it remains traditionally one of the main tasks of the educational process. The development of artificial intelligence, neural networks and other analytical computer systems shows that propositional knowledge is not the privilege of the human mind. This state of affairs changes the idea of knowledge as such. In this regard, the participants of the educational process face the task of revising the philosophical basis of modern learning in terms of finding a new definition of knowledge. It is also necessary to develop new methodological recommendations that would correspond to modern epistemological theories of knowledge, belief and understanding. Materials and research methods. The article uses the methods of conceptual analysis and comparative study characteristic of philosophy. The research materials are sources on theory of knowledge, education and also on applied epistemology. Results. Virtue epistemology is one of the most actively developing theories of knowledge in contemporary philosophy and humanities. It is based on the idea that knowledge cannot be an accidental belief, but must be the merit of a cognitive agent. This approach solves many problems of the philosophical theory of knowledge and creates a subjectoriented view of the nature of the cognitive process. This attitude allows us to use virtue epistemology in debates about applied issues, including those related to the explanation of the tasks and content of education. Discussion. A feature of the analysis within virtue epistemology is attention to cognitive skills (reliabilism) and sustained intellectual dispositions (responsibilism) in their relationship to the process of formation of true beliefs. Virtue epistemology defines knowledge through the notion of merit in the manifestation of subjective qualities, so the student's motivation and the context of belief formation should be taken into account when developing specific methodological recommendations. Such an approach explains why standardized testing cannot serve as the sole and primary means of assessing learners. At the same time, the general semantic peculiarity of the notions of virtue allows us to appeal to examples of individuals as ideal types of certain qualities (this is called exemplarism). At the same time, it is necessary to explain why these traits are the excellences that make their bearer better in epistemic terms. Conclusion. In explaining the knowledge transfer, pedagogy can be based on the philosophical principles of virtue epistemology. Such integration enriches both disciplines: pedagogy gets a conceptual scheme adequate to the modern social and technological situation, and epistemology gets a practical application.

An Overview of the Naturopathic Medicine Protocol Used in Inpatient Yoga and Naturopathy Hospitals in India: The Prakriti Shakti Protocol.

Naturopathic medicine is a popular form of complementary and alternative medicine systems practiced worldwide. This study provides an overview of a typical inpatient yoga and naturopathy protocol followed in India. Naturopathic medicine is commonly used in the management of certain lifestyle-related disorders, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, obesity, cancer, musculoskeletal disorders, endocrine disorders, and neurological disorders. Moreover, naturopathic medicine integrates different lifestyle medicine practices, such as yoga, diet, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and color therapy into its treatment plans. Moreover, India is one of the few countries that offer naturopathy treatments through inpatient hospitals. Although the clinical efficacy of naturopathic medicine practices in various pathological conditions has been confirmed, no studies have yet investigated the effectiveness of naturopathic medicines protocols in naturopathic inpatient settings. Naturopathic physicians use a set of philosophical principles when determining their therapeutic order and all therapies that upregulate physiological homeostasis.

MA’NAVIY TARAQQIYOT: BARKAMOL AVLODNI TARBIYALASHNING IJTIMOIY-FALSAFIY MEZONARI

It is discussed that philosophical, cultural and educational aspects that manifest themselves in different ways in the strategy of spiritual development of society in a certain period, various features associated with state policy and the development of man and population, especially analyzing the processes of development of the psyche and mood of youth in this article. Such features and specific aspects are general criteria and basic factors of philosophical principles that influence various features of concepts related to these issues. Ideas are presented from the point of view of the development of spiritual education, based on the practical significance of its modern development in society.

A methodology of informatics: the role of methodology in improvement of theory

The article has a propounding character. Based on methodological literature, the essence of the concept "methodology" is revealed, explaining the role of scientific methods in knowledge and the role of methodology in improving theory and research work in some fields of knowledge. The results of the literature analysis are considered a starting point for investigating the methodology of informatics. Currently, there is no developed system of philosophical, scientific, and general-theoretical principles that determine the program and methods for investigating the theory and methodology of informatics. Additionally, there is no established theory of method and scientific approach to the objective evaluation of practice. The absence of methodology is a major cause and effect of the crisis in contemporary information theory. We can only discuss the methods used in research work in the field of informatics. Special methods in informatics—such as statistical analysis of scientific documents, statistical analysis of references, and the method of ranking—are characterized. The main laws of informatics are discovered using these methods. A definition of the methodology of informatics and its main aims is put forward for discussion.

Pre-service mathematics teacher conducting prospective analysis: A case study on practice didactical design research

This study aims to understand how pre-service mathematics teachers conduct prospective analyses comprehensively. A qualitative research method with a case study design was used. The participant was Mrs N, a pre-service mathematics teacher who conducted research using DDR methodology in a grade 9 junior high school in Sindang, Majalengka, involving 48 students. Data were collected by analyzing empirical evidence from Mrs. N's prospective analysis process by uncovering the various stages of a prospective analysis. An iterative approach was used to analyze the data by refining the research questions through discussions and regular meetings with Mrs. N. The process ensured adaptability to new insights and understandings from the empirical data. Our findings reveal that the teacher draws upon fundamental philosophical principles from didactical design research, including hermeneutics, phenomenology, and ethnomethodology. By embracing these approaches, the teacher gains valuable insights into conducting research within an interpretive paradigm, allowing for a deeper exploration of the meaning of concepts, the purpose of learning, and the cultural influences that shape the educational process. Additionally, our study sheds light on the emergence of transpositional didactics theory as the prospective teacher delves into understanding the meaning of the geometrics transformation concept.

Communicating corporate social advocacy (CSA) in polarized times: A stoic turn from dancing to wrestling

In an age of increasing stakeholder activism, seen in movements like Fridays for Future, MeToo, and Black Lives Matter, and demands from socially conscious consumers, companies are expanding their roles beyond corporate social responsibility (CSR) and publicly addressing contentious social and political issues through corporate social advocacy (CSA). However, as stakeholders become more divided along ideological and socio-political lines, CSA can often lead to backlash from polarized audiences, damaging the company’s reputation, relationships, and legitimacy. This raises the question of whether it is prudent for companies to engage in CSA in polarized times? Can companies endure potential repercussions such as consumer boycotts, disaffected employees, and irate politicians and investors? This paper critiques the limitations of current approaches to communicating corporate societal responsibilities and explores Stoicism, an ancient Hellenistic philosophy, as an alternative lens to answer these difficult questions. As an applied philosophy and practical ethics, Stoicism not only offers a philosophical rationale for CSA, but also offers actionable principles to deal with agitated, divergent voices in polarized times. This paper discusses four selected Stoic thoughts and offers practical advice for managers on whether and how to effectively engage in CSA in polarized times. Recommendations include aligning CSA efforts with corporate identity, prioritizing factors within the organization’s control, remaining flexible and adaptable when encountering obstacles, and adopting reflective practice.

Lessons from a geriatric clinical case from the 19th century: abridge to modern geriatric medicine.

Count Neipperg (1775-1829), the morganatic husband of Maria Luigia of Habsburg, Napoleon's former wife, presented with typical heart failure symptoms and died of bilateral bronchopneumonia. Neipperg's case is an example of the conflict in the medical field, which led to the birth of modern evidence-based medicine (EBM), and although Neipperg died almost 200 years ago, his case presents the same critical issues that more complex geriatric patients face today. First, the attending physicians provided divergent opinions without reaching an agreement. For example, Francesco Rossi correctly diagnosed heart disease by evaluating the patient's signs and symptoms, a clinical approach that is an early example of modern EBM. By contrast, Giacomo Tommasini made a misdiagnosis based on the philosophical principles of John Brown's vitalist theory, as reworded by Giovanni Rasori. Second, Tommasini's medical report also includes evidence of the Geriatric 5Ms for older patient care, such as multi-complexity, multimorbidity, medication, mobility, and the mind. Moreover, both physicians considered "what matters most" for the patient and his family. Third, the Count's status and political role were identified as the social and structural determinants of health (SSDoH) and used to justify the exceptional intensity of the health care provided. Subsequently, the ante litteram application of EBM and a clinical evaluation based on Geriatrics 5Ms principles anticipate current multidisciplinary management focused on the patient rather than a single disease. The systematic revision of past clinical cases not examined before could open new windows in the dissemination of the geriatric methodology and discipline.

L’importanza dei masi come luoghi del paesaggio culturale ladino della Val Gardena

Rural architecture, as an integral part of any cultural landscape, reflects the connection between humans and their habitat. The “masi” (farmsteads) of Val Gardena embody this harmony with nature through the use of wood and stone, blending functionality with the surrounding environmental context. These buildings not only symbiotically relate to the terrain, but they also respond to agricultural needs and natural conditions. The construction of “masi” adheres to philosophical principles of order, expressing the “genius loci” of the location. In Val Gardena, two predominant typologies emerge: the “Einhof” and the “Paarhof”, both characterised by the skilful use of natural materials and integration into the landscape. The evolution of “masi” over time reveals functional and organic transformations, showcasing craftsmanship and adaptability to the environment. Wood, a durable and versatile material, is used to form the structural foundation, reflecting a pragmatic approach to design. The interior spaces, such as the kitchen and “stube” (traditional living room), are configured according to functional needs while still maintaining the essence of traditional dwellings. These buildings exhibit an architectural identity oriented towards modernity, offering insights for contemporary architectural language. This essay, accompanied by selected photographs, delves into the peculiarities of Val Gardena’s “masi”, providing a comprehensive analysis of buildings through construction principles, relationships with the landscape, typologies, spatial characteristics, and potential new uses.

Mary Wollstonecraft and Richard Price: The Theological and Philosophical Foundations of Freedom as Independence

ABSTRACT In Wollstonecraft’s early writings, she articulates the foundational theological and philosophical principles that would underpin her work throughout her career. One difference between her early and later work lies in the way that the values to which she refers are combined. Whereas Wollstonecraft at first appeals to the separate ideals of independence, equality, and virtue, from the 1790s onwards she integrates these into a characteristic republican framework that was in common use amongst dissenting theorists at the time. The set of values on which Wollstonecraft draws, and the version of the republican framework that she develops, closely resemble those of Richard Price with whose work she was familiar. Examining the structural similarities between their respective models, I argue, gives us an insight into the systematic manner of aspects of Wollstonecraft’s own thought. It also allows us to see how Wollstonecraft goes beyond the republicanism of Price and others as she develops her own feminist solutions to the problems of structural domination.

Владимир Соловьев и Вячеслав Иванов: принципы философской герменевтики и традиция диалогов Платона

The article is dedicated to the problem of comparative study of the hermeneutics principles in religious-philosophical and literary-critical discourse of Vladimir Solovyov and Vyacheslav Ivanov. It is shown that Plato’s dialogue traditions in the works of Ivanov were intellectual reflections and expressed “Plato’s turn” in hermeneutical tradition of text interpretation that outlined in Russian religious philosophy. Special comparative study of this problem had not been conducted. It is proved that Ivanov’s interest to Plato’s dialogues derived from various sources. Solovyov’s works and translations of Plato’s works in Russia played a major role in it. Solovyov was a translator and commentator of Socratic dialogues of the ancient Greek philosopher. His introductory chapters made for Plato’s dialogue translations, his literary and philosophical criticism are considered in the article. Materials form Ivanov’s personal archive are analyzed and they show that he was interested in Plato’s dialogues “Timaeus”, “Phaedrus” and others. His articles, lectures, under-investigated materials and the books “Dionysus and Pre-Dionysianism” (1923) and “Dostoevsky. Tragedy-Myth-Mysticism” (1932) are considered. A.F. Losev’s works on ancient philosophy and his research on Solovyov and works of F. Schleiermache, H.G. Gadamer and became the object of the comparative analysis. It is shown that Plato’s dialectics and dialogues became major source for development of philosophical hermeneutics principles for Solovyov, Ivanov and Losev. It is shown that a myth in Solovyov’s, Ivanov’s and Losev’s works as well as in Plato’s dialogues becomes a category of thinking, a way of religious-philosophical perception, a form of artistic representation of the image-symbol and a basis of hermeneutical dialectic understanding. Solovyov and Ivanov’s view on Plato and Platonism is important for studying the development of hermeneutic ideas in Russian philosophy and literature studies.